Favourite song from 'Shine'

[nicola]

Oh, someone had to come up with the totally unoriginal thread sooner or later, didn't they?!

I know, I know, what a hard question. It's likely you can't answer it, or will find it very difficult. That's why I've allowed you to vote for up to four songs. XD And that's why we can post and list all of our favourites (try not to list all 12!).

I have many favourites on this album, and there isn't a track I skip, but I know my favourites are 'Glorious', 'Everything Can Wait' and 'My Own Sunrise'.

But if I had to vote for just one (and I'm glad I don't) I would vote 'Glorious'. It really is just a brilliant song and so powerful! It makes me feel so nostalgic, although I'm not sure what for as it's a new song. It always makes me happy and ready to get going, and I'm hit by it everytime I hear it. I just can't tire of it. That kind of song is rare. The experience is intensified watching her music video with it. The colours and imagery are just so spot on! She she is such a beautiful girl as well. Amazing eyes and smile. <3

The other two are just sooo soothing and beautiful.

The album does to me what music should do - touches my heart. I can't remember the last album that *really* did this. It really brings listening to music back to basics for me. <3

[ken]

Hi everyone,

First of all, I would just like to thank Nicola for saving me a lot of time. I was intending to set this very poll later today and now I don't have to!

As I have been afforded the luxury of four votes (which is more generous than I would have been!), I will use them. It saves me the difficulty of choosing the song in third place - the first two are easy.

So my third and fourth votes (I can't separate them) go to Rising From the Fire and Burning Love.

My second vote goes to the song that I know has been mentioned elsewhere as many people's favourite, namely Glorious. The title sums it up. But for me there is one track that eclipses all the others:

My top vote by a country mile goes to Lighthouse of Mine. It has a truly lovely melody, a wonderful arrangement and a beautiful lyric. And oh, that key change is breathtaking.

Ken

[John]

No doubt about my number one. ‘Lighthouse of Mine’ may not be the most interesting musically, but it does something deep inside me that I just can’t explain. Even after so many months of listening, it still brings on the tears as often as not. It’s the quiet beginning that sets me off; the powerful ending doesn’t affect me so deeply.

“Over time, time will heal the heartache.” I have found some truth in that sentiment, but ‘Glorious’ still appeals strongly to my emotions. And I never tire of watching that official video, even though it includes less than half the song.

I also voted for ‘My Own Sunrise’, for the sheer exquisite beauty of the music.

Number four would be harder to choose.

[Gary S]

There isn't a track I dislike truthfully, but my chosen four (no order) are the first four tracks on the album:

Are You the Way Home
Glorious
Lighthouse of Mine
Rising from the Fire

If pushed to select a top track, for me it would be Lighthouse of Mine.

[Admin]

Thanks for starting this poll Nicola.

This was the first thread that I saw when I came home from work over three hours ago and I have been mulling over my answer since, such a difficult decision even though we have generously been allowed four votes. Every track is wonderful in its own way which shows what a great album Shine is.

I have made my choices though. Like I said in my review which I posted yesterday I think that ‘Rising From The Fire’ is simply stunning and I really find it hard to choose between that and ‘Glorious’ as my favourite song. Glorious is just a brilliant song which I started a while ago to set as my alarm at the weekends, a wonderful way to wake up.

I think that ‘Everything Can Wait’ is such a beautiful song with shades of one of my favourite bands Sigur Ros in the intro. To complete the four is My Own Sunrise, which I think really brings out the best in Mary-Jess’ voice, not that the other tracks don't of course, but it is stunning.

Dazza

[Jenny A]

Oh Gosh, It's difficult to choose...
I had to go with "Are You The Way Home?", "Rising From The Fire", "Everything Can Wait", "My Own Sunrise".

I also LOVE "Burning Love" but I find myself listening to the those four on a loop more often than the others.


I love these polls. There so fun. I hope there'll be alot more in the future!

[nicola]

You're the first not to choose 'Glorious', Jenny! XD

I couldn't pick a fourth favourite, so I only picked three. Two of them were the same as yours.

[Jenny A]

I just had to be different! lol

I've only heard a clip of the Radio Edit version of Glorious. That one sounds great but the album version just doesn't do it for me... it's like something's missing.

[bobscullen]

Ok after much thought and deliberation my top four are:

Glorious
Rising from the fire
Everything can wait
My own sunrise

Bob


Sent from my HTC Explorer A310b using ProBoards

[nicola]

8 out of 26 voters?

[ken]

I feel the most important songs in any live performance are the first and the last. At the Elgin on Wednesday, Mary-Jess opened with Glorious which is currently in first place in our poll and ended with Lighthous which is currently second. Coincidence?

Yeah, probably!

Ken

[mikebee]

I never fail to have my spirits lifted after listening to Shine. The whole album is just a joy to hear from start to finish and it almost feels wrong to pick out individual tracks.

Having said that, and after much consideration, I am going for Rising from the fire as my favourite track. This is very closely followed by Everything can wait, Glorious, and Lighthouse of mine.

Mike

[nicola]

You know, it's so strange to me that I cannot hear what everyone else does. Lighthouse of Mine seems quite ordinary to me, but it's many people's favourite!

What is it about the song that moves you all? (I know John's answer, though he might want to answer again for the benefit of everyone else).

XD

[Admin]

I completely agree Mike, Shine is a wonderful album and has really helped lift me up recently following a bad few weeks at work. I'm generally a happy person anyway but I've been listening to the album rather a lot and people keep asking me why I seem much happier than usual, then I get to tell them all about Mary-Jess and Shine.

I didn't list it with my choices but it was very hard not to. I think Lighthouse of Mine is a gorgeous song with lovely lyrics which I think could have real meaning to some people. I think Mary-Jess' voice is really beautiful in this song too.

Dazza

[John]

Mar 5, 2012 22:11:26 GMT nicola said:

What is it about the song that moves you all? (I know John's answer, though he might want to answer again for the benefit of everyone else).
XD

Musically, I also find 'Lighthouse of Mine' quite ordinary and I am quite surprised at how many other people say it is their favourite. Mary-Jess also says it is her favourite from the album, after 'Burning Love'.

For me, the heart wrenching appeal lies in the lyrics, together with the way Mary-Jess delivers them.

Though I've walked the darkest roads
Though I've walked it all along
Each and every time I've called
You have run to where I fall

A few of you will know that I turned to music in a big way after my wife died from cancer two and a half years ago. The music not only gave me much comfort but also gave me a new focus of interest for my life. Living alone, friendships made via the internet (including forums like this) have come to mean a lot to me.

I can interpret 'Lighthouse' in several different ways. Firstly, there is my religious experience, but again there are the simple acts of kindness shown by friends. Some singers (MJ included) are also like a lighthouse to me, drawing me out of the dark and showing me a way forward. Perhaps most of all though, the song brings to mind one very special on-line friend who has borne the brunt of much of my emotional ramblings, yet is always ready to come back with a virtual hug at times when I need it most.